176 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, of Lieutenant Wainwright, to dig wells ; in which their success was 
so satisfactory, that in less than three days we procured thirty tons of 
Feb. good fresh water. The wells were about four feet deep, dug through 
the sand into the coral rock. Into two of these the water flowed as 
fast as we could fill the casks ; and when allowed to stand, rose eighteen 
inches. This water was drunk by all the ship’s company for several 
weeks, and proved tolerably good, though it did not keep as well as 
spring water*. It is important to navigators to know, that even as 
good water as this may be procured on the coral islands by means of 
wells. In digging them, the choice of situation should be given to the 
most elevated part of the island, and to a spot distant from the sea ; 
perhaps in the vicinity of cocoa-nut trees. It is a curious fact that, in 
Bow Island, the water that flowed into holes dug within a yard of the 
sea was fresh enough to be drunk by the sailors, and served the pur- 
pose of the natives while they remained in our vicinity ; though I do 
not think Europeans could have used it long with impunity. 
Not far from the temporary residence of the natives, there was a 
level spot of ground, overgrown with grass, upon which the observatory 
was erected ; and I had in consequence frequent intercourse with them 
and, through the medium of the interpreter of the Dart, learned many 
interesting particulars concerning them. By this account they have not 
long desisted from cannibalism. On questioning the chief, he acknow- 
ledged himself to have been present at several feasts of human bodies, 
and on expatiating on the excellence of the food, particularly wLen it 
was that of a female, his brutal countenance became flushed with a 
horrible expression of animation. Their enemies, those slain in battle, 
or those who die violent deaths, and murderers, were, he said, the only 
subjects selected for these feasts ; the latter, whether justified or not, 
* Mr. Collie observes, in his Journal, that “ a solution of nitrate of soda detected in it a 
moderate proportion of muriatic acid, most likely imbodied in the soda. It had no brackish 
taste. Witli an alcoholic solution of soap it formed a copious white precipitate : with oxalate 
of ammonia it formed slowly, but after some time, a dense white cloud: with nitrate of silver 
an abundant purplish-white precipitate: it remained unchanged with nitrate of barytes. 
Thus showing that it contained no sulphuric acid, but that it was impregnated with muriatic 
acid and magnesia, most likely muriate of soda and magnesia, the component parts of sea 
water.” 
